Report: Sunderland reportedly agree deal to sign Ola Toivonen

According to a report in the Sunderland Echo, the Black Cats have reached an agreement to sign Ola Toivenen from Ligue 1 side Rennes on a permanent transfer.

The Wearside club have been looking to bring in another attacking player before the close of the transfer window, and it is stated that Toivonen is close to being confirmed as a Sunderland player. Deals for Stewart Downing and Leroy Fer collapsed earlier in the summer, and the report claims Jonathan de Guzman does not want to move to the Stadium of Light, leaving Toivonen as the only option left.

It is reported that the 29-year-old has been transfer listed by Rennes as they wish to get his high wages off their books, and was close to signing for Greek sign PAOK earlier this summer.

However, they only wanted to sign him on a loan deal, and Rennes are looking to sell him permanently which is how the Black Cats have jumped to the front of the queue.

Toivonen can play in both attacking midfield and as a striker, operating in a largely central role. He has scored nine goals in 43 games for Sweden, and has 15 in 54 games for Rennes, but he has played just 16 minutes worth of action this season.

Sunderland could do much worse than sign the forward, and with a deal reportedly already agreed, it appears as if Dick Advocaat is one step closer to finalising his transfer business before the close of the window.

Billy Hawkins

Billy is a freelance writer who contributes to various sites concerning football. Known to possess an obsession with statistics, Eastern European club sides, and Victorian football, he focuses upon the untapped potential of the Football League in the belief it is more enjoyable than the Premier League.